Monday, 21 October 2013

For those in doubt - I'm pretty francophile when it comes to history. After the launch of Bolt Action, a rule set I really enjoy, I decided to include a French contingent in my collection.

The Fall of France in 1940 is often hailed as the perfection of the Blitzkrieg strategy. As the panzers rolled up the French defenses with astounding speed, the brave French troops fought it out with great elán, often only to be undermined by political intrigues in the top military command - one could get a déja vu feeling to the 1870 campaign. All efforts ending at the Dunkerque evacuation of over 300.000 troops and the surrender of France.

As Bolt Action is a skirmish game, I quite like this early war period, before the tanks got too big, allowing focus on the infantry squad and how this is used on the table.

Warlord supplies a very nice range of miniatures, with great sculpting, and thus grateful figs to paint.
Based individual figs on 25 mm rounds, and support on 60 mm rounds.

Support 1: MMG Team pointing their faithful Hotchkiss at the invaders

Support 2: 81 mm mortar fielded with spotter to really pin point the suppressive fire

Friday, 4 October 2013

Managed to finish up the first of the Russian units for my Borodino Collection.

The St Petersburg Grenadiers saw action at Borodino as part of the center-left of
the Russian position. A crutial part of the Russian defense as Napoleon was looking to out flank his opposition.

Like a few other characters in history Napoleon bit of more than he could chew in the Russian campaign of 1812. Looking for a fight that would thwart the Russian forces, he got it on 7th September 1812 in the battle of Borodino or the battle for Moscow as the French call it.

For those interested in the battle I can really recommend the "Borodino" book from Histoire & Collections.

The book offers excellent uniform plates and in depth description of the armies
and the battle it self. Picked up my copy at Salute 2 years ago, think it was Caliver who sold it.